Why Does Elizabeth Turn Down Darcy’s Proposal?

Answer

Why does Elizabeth turn down Darcy’s proposal? [NU: 2016, 20] ★★★

In Pride and Prejudice (1813), Elizabeth Bennet rejects Mr. Darcy’s first proposal for four main reasons. Her refusal shows her strong values and feelings. This moment is very important in the story as it reveals Elizabeth’s character and the problems between them.

Darcy Insults Elizabeth: At the beginning of the story, Mr. Darcy is proud of his wealth, family, and social rank. He thinks he is better than others who have less money or a lower social status. When Mr. Bingley calls him to dance with Elizabeth, he says, 

“She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me.” 

This shows his pride. This hurts Elizabeth. So he rejects Darcy.

Darcy Insults Elizabeth’s Family: When Darcy proposes, he speaks with pride. He talks about Elizabeth’s family in a bad way. He says that he loves her, 

“Despite the inferiority of her connections.” 

This hurts Elizabeth deeply. She feels insulted because Darcy looks down on her family’s social status and manners. Elizabeth cannot accept a man who judges her family so harshly.

Her Prejudice Against Darcy: Elizabeth also refuses his proposal because she believes Darcy is proud and unkind. She trusts Mr. Wickham’s story that Darcy treated him unfairly. She cannot forgive Darcy for what she thinks is his cruelty and arrogance. Her prejudice blinds her to Darcy’s true nature at this time.

Darcy’s Interference with Jane and Bingley: Elizabeth is also angry because she learns Darcy advised Mr. Bingley not to marry her sister Jane. She thinks Darcy acted selfishly and harmed her sister’s happiness. This makes her distrust him more and reject his proposal firmly.

Elizabeth turns down Darcy’s proposal because she feels insulted by his pride and harsh words about her family. She also believes he is proud and unjust, influenced by Wickham’s lies. Lastly, she is upset by his interference in her sister’s love life. This refusal is a key turning point,